Phoenix

There are very few pests that can cause the same reaction that roaches do. Everyone hates them and for good reason. There’s nothing good about them, they’re dirty, and they carry germs and diseases. You certainly don’t want them in your home or business.

Roaches have been around for a very long time and they’re a fact of life when you live in Florida. There are over 3,500 varieties but only a few of those are what we have to deal with here. Some are typically found outside and some like to live indoors. Whether you use a pest control service or choose to do it yourself, there are some basic things you can do to help keep them out.

So, how do you keep a population of roaches from taking over your home? Be clean; even a crumb is a feast for a cockroach. Clean your kitchen every night, and put away all food, including pet food. Roaches like pet food as much as your pet does.

Quickly fix leaks in the kitchen or bath because even small amounts of water will attract roaches. Some factors out of your control, such as climate, attract roaches, too. Some roaches come in from outdoors, like Smokey Browns, and they like warm climates. Others, like German cockroaches, live almost exclusively indoors, and the outdoor climate doesn’t matter to them.

To help get rid of roach populations, some new roach baits are now on the market. They are very effective, so you may not need to use as many pesticides as we once did. However, if you already have a large roach population, you will probably have to spray some kind of pesticide.

Remember when you spray that roaches like crevices. They prefer for their backs and legs to touch the surface at the same time.

You will usually know if you’ve got a roach problem because they leave droppings and dirt behind. It doesn’t take long before you may have a full-blown infestation. Sometimes they will live in the walls, under the floors, and in the crawl spaces, and they come out through vents, electrical outlets, and any crack or crevice they can find.

It can be a full-time job if you’re trying to keep them under control yourself, but if you even suspect that you have an infestation, you should definitely call a good pest control company to provide service. Once they have them under control, most companies will let you choose a monthly or quarterly plan, depending on your needs.